An NGO on Wednesday moved the Delhi High Court seeking a direction to the Centre to take concrete steps to deal with the "increasing menace" of stray dogs and monkeys in the national capital and have them "eliminated", saying they are "defiling" the Prime Minister's 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan'.

New Delhi: An NGO on Wednesday moved the Delhi High Court seeking a direction to the Centre to take concrete steps to deal with the "increasing menace" of stray dogs and monkeys in the national capital and have them "eliminated", saying they are "defiling" the Prime Minister's 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan'.

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath was told that human life was more precious than that of street dogs/animals, so they be "eliminated."

The court has fixed the matter for further hearing on August 17.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by NGO, Society For Public Cause, which said that Section 399 of Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957, provides for control and regulation of dogs.

"Street dogs are defiling the 'Clean India i.e. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' programme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," the NGO said, adding that "any person bitten by dog should be compensated suitably by the respondents (the Ministry of Environment and Forests) and in case of death, a minimum compensation to be paid to the next kin of the victim".

The petitioner's counsel LS Chaudhary sought a direction to the ministry and municipal corporations that "if animal lovers want to set up kennels they should do so at their own cost and not at public expenses".

It also said that all pet dogs must be muzzled when brought in public and stray dogs/ monkeys be sent to Nagaland or exported.

"Direct the mandatory registration of pet dogs. All pet dogs must have collar band and metal tag issued by Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) around their neck. Any pet dog found without tag may be confiscated and owner of pet dog may be penalised suitably....

"Direct that owners of pet dogs must carry a ploythene bag and pick up the poop of their pets to be properly disposed off and any pet dog found littering around in public places may be confiscated and his owner may be fined heavily," the petitioner said.